Sofia - Bulgaria anti-government protest turns into riot - 14.1.2009.

SOFIA, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Hundreds of protesters clashed with police, smashed windows and damaged cars in Bulgaria's capital on Wednesday when an anti-government rally turned into a riot.

The violence broke out during a peaceful protest in front of parliament of more than 2,000 people, including students, farmers and green activists, who said they were fed up with life in the European Union's poorest and most corrupt nation.

The riot in Sofia was the worst since 1997, when mass rallies and strikes toppled the then Socialist government for pushing the Balkan country into an economic meltdown.

On Wednesday, protesters demanded the Socialist-led government step down for its failure to tackle widespread graft and crime and solve economic problems in the face of a global slowdown. Some shouted "Resign" and "Mafia".

"We are fed up with living in the poorest and most corrupt country," the protest organisers said in a statement. "This a unique protest which unites the people in their wish for change and their wish to live in a normal European country."

Demonstrators hurled snowballs and bottles at parliament and hundreds clashed with police about an hour after the rally started. Six policemen and some protesters were wounded.

When police tried to drive rioters away from parliament, some began to destroy cars and hurled metal bars and cobblestones dug up from the streets at shop windows and buses.

Police arrested at least 53 people and confiscated hand-made grenades, metal chains and rods.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• sofia
• bulgaria
• anti
• government
• protest
• riots
• rally
• police
• protests
• demonstrations
• протести
• парламента

[RadicalDividedByX]

ah beautiful.pissed off people fighting for there rights.

[SansAuthoritas]

This is what happens when people are less armed than the State.

[horsefucker1680]

@TheSpondjBob Я умирай бе, Велики Македонецо!

[userisonline]

@RadicalDividedByX, the problem was that some skinheads started the fight, and the police continued beating the others

[MrNacko28]

@BaHkaTa3 Никога няма да се оправим. На нас си ни харесва да живеем така. България е най-корумпираната държава в Европа, също така се правят най-малко протести.

Сигурно сме на 4то място по правене на протести след Люксембург,Белгия,Швеция....

[BaHkaTa3]

Еййй свини грозни как смеете да удряте хората които ви плащат заплатите бе нещастници....Скапана коримпирана държава за нищо не ставате,но знайте че един ден пак ще има една 1989 година и тогава няма кой да ви спаси СВИНСКИ БОКЛУЦИ!!!!!СКАПАНИ КОМУНИСТИ!!!!ЗА БЕСИЛКАТА СТЕ БЕ!!!

[danamateiRM]

@shtoksy

Moldova is much better.



[shtoksy]

@iamyourdeath25 BULGARIA LIKE MOLDOVA ??? ARE YOU OK WITH THE HEAD ???

[AnyBakalska]

Ok i understand this but the fuck seriously why do the police have to beat innocent people??? On street? like the bulgarian police have no brain at ALL!

im a bulgarian too but i dont live in bulgaria

[youeatmetube]

Looks like our police watches a lot of American movies. I wish I knew what was this all about and was there. But then again going against an army of police is not always a good idea.

P.S. Rumanian fucks STFU. We were here long before you and we got our own language and alphabet. Go make some history before you trash-talk. And next time don't give your people to Nazis so they can burn them you moron fucks.

[iamyourdeath25]

@sleeper7271 lie for what, bulgarian is a poor country man , what is the lie heare ?